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Informal Meeting

September 22, 2025 ·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 20 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Council Members Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement
  4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, President The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice President The Honorable Sarah Abubaker The Honorable Andrew Breton The Honorable Kenya Gibson The Honorable Nicole Jones The Honorable Stephanie Lynch (late arrival) The Honorable Ellen Robertson (late arrival) The Honorable Reva Trammell
  5. 3 Councilor Ellen Robertson arrived at 4:03 p.m. and was seated.
  6. 3 Staff Present
  7. 4 Docket Review
  8. 4 Lisa Braxton, Council Management Analyst, Principal Laura Drewry, City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
  9. 5 11. Ord. 2025-187 – retained on Consent Agenda 12. Ord. 2025-189 – retained on Consent Agenda 13. Ord. 2025-192 – retained on Consent Agenda 14. Ord. 2025-193 – retained on Consent Agenda 15. Ord. 2025-194 – retained on Consent Agenda 16. Ord. 2025-195 – retained on Consent Agenda 17. Ord. 2025-196 – retained on Consent Agenda 18. Ord. 2025-197 – retained on Consent Agenda 19. Ord. 2025-198 – retained on Consent Agenda 20. Ord. 2025-199 – retained on Consent Agenda 21. Ord. 2025-200 – retained on Consent Agenda 22. Ord. 2025-201 – retained on Consent Agenda
  10. 6 Adjournment
  11. 6 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and presided.
  12. 8 Upon the President’s request, Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency.
  13. 10 Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton reviewed the following agenda items as indicated: Consent Agenda: 1. Ord. 2025-025 – retained on Consent Agenda
  14. 11 2. Ord. 2025-032 – retained on Consent Agenda 3. Ord. 2025-046 – retained on Consent Agenda 4. Ord. 2025-052 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 5. Ord. 2025-079 – to be amended and continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 6. Ord. 2025-081 – to be amended and continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 7. Ord. 2025-113 – to be amended and continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 8. Ord. 2025-148 – withdrawn 9. Ord. 2025-150 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 10. Ord. 2025-173 – retained on Consent Agenda
  15. 14 23. Ord. 2025-202 – retained on Consent Agenda 24. Ord. 2025-203 – retained on Consent Agenda 25. Ord. 2025-204 – retained on Consent Agenda 26. Ord. 2025-205 – retained on Consent Agenda 27. Ord. 2025-206 – retained on Consent Agenda 28. Res. 2025-R036 – retained on Consent Agenda 29. Res. 2025-R037 – retained on Consent Agenda 30. Res. 2025-R038 – retained on Consent Agenda 31. Res. 2025-R039 – retained on Consent Agenda 32. Res. 2025-R040 – retained on Consent Agenda Regular Agenda: 33. Ord. 2025-100 – retained on Regular Agenda 34. Ord. 2025-161 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 35. Ord. 2025-184 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 36. Ord. 2025-185 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 37. Ord. 2025-186 – to be continued to Tuesday, October 14, 2025 38. Ord. 2025-207 – retained on Regular Agenda 39. Ord. 2025-208 – retained on Regular Agenda Mayor Danny Avula addressed Council regarding Ord. 2025-208 and stated that this would not be a good time to reduce the real estate tax rate, since it would have an adverse effect on city services as well as it not being beneficial to the renters’ citizenry. Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald provided Council with a presentation regarding the impact of proposed Ord. 2025-208, which would establish a $1.16 real estate tax rate for the 2026 tax year. A copy of the presentation has been filed. Councilor Kenya Gibson inquired regarding the projected real estate assessment value used to craft the fiscal year 2026 budget verses accrual receivables and requested a final analysis of the comparison.
  16. 15 Councilor Stephanie Lynch arrived at 4:30 p.m. and was seated.
  17. 16 CAO Donald informed Council that actual real estate assessments are trending lower than projected, which warrants Council’s decision to align the city’s budget and assessment processes. Councilor Gibson also requested documentation regarding the specific costs of the city’s current obligations and/or needs such as collective bargaining and certain capital improvement projects. Councilor Sarah Abubaker expressed the need to have a thorough discussion regarding the election of the real estate tax rate and stated that Council should not rush to adopt either Ord. 2025-207 or Ord. 2025-208 later that evening during the Formal Session of Council. Councilor Abubaker suggested that the city’s future budget plans be formulated based on the $1.146 real estate roll back rate. Councilor Reva Trammell shared her constituents’ concerns regarding redevelopment, affordable housing and higher consumer costs amongst the need to lower the real estate tax rate. Mayor Avula stated that he agreed with wanting to provide relief for residents, however, the proposed four-cent reduction in the real estate tax rate referenced by Ord. 2025-208 would not help citizens that need it the most. Councilor Stephanie Lynch mentioned the lower real estate tax rates of surrounding counties and the services they provide, and suggested the city reevaluate funding priorities. Mayor Avula commented on historic events and policies that plagued the city’s prior growth and cited that the city’s comparison to other localities was not equivalent. City Attorney Laura Drewry explained that pursuant to state code, Council has until November 10th to consider Ords. 2025-207 and 2025-208 or the real estate tax rate would revert to the $1.146 roll back rate. Councilor Gibson inquired regarding the “RVA Stay” tax relief program and the four-cent tax rebate offered to residents last year. Mayor Avula commented on city administration’s opposition to the proposed adoption of Ord. 2025-100. 40. Res. 2025-R035 – moved to Consent Agenda
  18. 17 At the request of President Cynthia Newbille, it was the consensus of Council to move Res. 2025-R035 to the Consent Agenda for consideration later that evening during the Formal Session of Council. There were no further comments or discussions concerning Consent and Regular Agenda items reviewed.
  19. 19 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
  20. 20 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK